Post by Klark on Apr 4, 2007 0:14:02 GMT -5
Well, I had my meeting with my neurosurgeon today. This is what I found out....
I need to lose the 30 lbs that I've put on since the accident to see if that helps alleviate the pain. That's the basic, here's the goods.
My L4 is definitely bulged. He showed me the MRI on the computer.It's big, it's not gonna get any better, but if I screw up, it can get worse. So no screwing up.
My S1 is also bulged, though not as badly as L4. I just have to watch it too.
My L5 is ruptured. Totally. I mean, you can really see it on the MRI, I almost freaked. It's ruptured, but not blown. It's the main source of my pain. It will also never get better, but the good news is that I can't paralyze myself from it. However, he can do a laprendectomy or something like that to open my back, shave off the rupture, suck out the fluid, and stitch me up. It would allow my disk to stabilize by sitting on top of the other one. He said it's about an hour surgery and that if done on a Friday, I can return to work on a Monday. However, it is surgery and back surgery working around alot of nerves.
Ok, so L4 and S1 are bulged, L5 is ruptured. I also have a cracked disk. He's not sure if it was caused by a chiropractor or by the accident, though he bets the accident, but it's definitely cracked. Also, my lower spine is degenerating and has been for 4 to 5 years now.
Helluva back, huh?
So, in the end, he wants me to continue to do the physical therapy exercises, he wants me to lose the weight and told me that the job Cabela's had me doing as so-called "light duty" was no better for my back than just doing my old job. He said quitting was the right thing to do. However, since I'm gonna be a reporter now and it's not as physically demanding, he lifted all my restrictions so I can do exercises and what have you to help drop the pounds. He doesn't want to do anything invasive if the pain can fade away or not be as bad for as long as he doesn't have to.
The fact that I'm 26 really makes me too young for back surgery. If I start now, I'll have a long road of it. Neither of us wants that. However, if the pain won't go away, we'll have to.
So, wish me luck as I ease myself into an exercise and weightlifting routine so I can drop the pounds and increase muscle mass again. I'm almost giddy about this. It's like being back in high school and bulking up for football! I just have to ease my back into it.
That's about it.
I need to lose the 30 lbs that I've put on since the accident to see if that helps alleviate the pain. That's the basic, here's the goods.
My L4 is definitely bulged. He showed me the MRI on the computer.It's big, it's not gonna get any better, but if I screw up, it can get worse. So no screwing up.
My S1 is also bulged, though not as badly as L4. I just have to watch it too.
My L5 is ruptured. Totally. I mean, you can really see it on the MRI, I almost freaked. It's ruptured, but not blown. It's the main source of my pain. It will also never get better, but the good news is that I can't paralyze myself from it. However, he can do a laprendectomy or something like that to open my back, shave off the rupture, suck out the fluid, and stitch me up. It would allow my disk to stabilize by sitting on top of the other one. He said it's about an hour surgery and that if done on a Friday, I can return to work on a Monday. However, it is surgery and back surgery working around alot of nerves.
Ok, so L4 and S1 are bulged, L5 is ruptured. I also have a cracked disk. He's not sure if it was caused by a chiropractor or by the accident, though he bets the accident, but it's definitely cracked. Also, my lower spine is degenerating and has been for 4 to 5 years now.
Helluva back, huh?
So, in the end, he wants me to continue to do the physical therapy exercises, he wants me to lose the weight and told me that the job Cabela's had me doing as so-called "light duty" was no better for my back than just doing my old job. He said quitting was the right thing to do. However, since I'm gonna be a reporter now and it's not as physically demanding, he lifted all my restrictions so I can do exercises and what have you to help drop the pounds. He doesn't want to do anything invasive if the pain can fade away or not be as bad for as long as he doesn't have to.
The fact that I'm 26 really makes me too young for back surgery. If I start now, I'll have a long road of it. Neither of us wants that. However, if the pain won't go away, we'll have to.
So, wish me luck as I ease myself into an exercise and weightlifting routine so I can drop the pounds and increase muscle mass again. I'm almost giddy about this. It's like being back in high school and bulking up for football! I just have to ease my back into it.
That's about it.
